North Bridge

North Bridge, North Street, Wareham, Dorset

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1323570
Date first listed:: 07-May-1952
List Entry Name:: North Bridge
Statutory Address:: North Bridge, North Street, Wareham, Dorset

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.

Date:: 2003-02-04
Reference:: IOE01/10077/11
Rights:: © Rev Andrew Salmon. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1323570
Date first listed:: 07-May-1952
Date of most recent amendment:: 30-Jun-2015
List Entry Name:: North Bridge
Statutory Address 1:: North Bridge, North Street, Wareham, Dorset

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: North Bridge, North Street, Wareham, Dorset

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Wareham Town
National Grid Reference:: SY9214087814

Summary

A multi-span bridge across the River Piddle or Trent, in Wareham; the bridge has medieval origins, with additions circa 1670, and was widened in 1846.

Reasons for Designation

The medieval and C17 North Bridge in Wareham is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Relative date: the bridge retains one span of its medieval structure and two spans from the C17; * Architectural interest: it is a neatly-made structure with very well constructed arches to the spans, and deep, pointed cutwaters with contemporary refuges.

History

North Bridge is probably of medieval origin, and one arch survives from this period. The bridge was mentioned in documents as ‘pontun de Pedle’ in 1483 and by Leland in 1535 – 43. The central and southern arches were rebuilt in around 1670 following orders made in Quarter Sessions of 1667 and 1670; the masons contracted for the work were John Maskell, John Thorne, Robert Slade and Thomas Godden. The bridge was widened to the west and the approaches were improved in 1846 to plans by George Evans, County Surveyor; the builder Dominic Stone of Taunton. The present parapets were added in the C20. North Bridge continues to carry vehicular traffic.

Details

A multi-span bridge across the River Piddle or Trent, in Wareham; the bridge has medieval origins, with additions in circa 1670, and was widened in 1846.

MATERIALS Squared and coursed stone.

DESCRIPTION The bridge has three arches, the northern one being pointed and probably of medieval origin. The central and southern arches, which date from circa 1670, are segmental. There are two deep, upstream cutwaters with refuges above, and modern parapets matching the original materials and style.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 108026
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset II South East, (1970), 315-6
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 28 (illus.) & 29

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.